HomeIN THE BEGINNING
ESTABLISHING A CHURCH HOME AND THE FIRST 25 YEARS
Zion Lutheran Church graciously agreed to share their pastor, Rev. Martin Swanson, with our church. He was installed as pastor on April 12, 1953. On December 1, 1953 (for $6,000), the church purchased 4 acres of property at Chestnut and Second in Clermont.
During this time, Zion Lutheran in Groveland erected a new church building. First Lutheran Church bought Zion Lutheran's original church building. In December 1954, the entire building came down a dirt road, highway 50, on a special vehicle to the Clermont property. The first worship service in our first church home was in April 1954. On December 12, 1954, the church was dedicated.
Church growth during the ensuring 15 years prompted the next construction phase: adding Sunday School class rooms, a social room, a nursery and a storage area - costing $22,000. November 23, 1969 marked the dedication of this Parish Hall.
On April 7, 1974, the Garden of the Flags was dedicated. Flags of all 50 states were flown every Sunday. The White House in Washington sent us a letter congratulating our congregation on this special patriotic endeavor. In 1984 the garden had to be sacrificed for a much needed parking lot. due to congregational growth.
Despite only a part time pastor for the first 25 years, growth of the congregation continued in the small rural town of Clermont.
A LOOK AT OUR CHURCH DURING ITS TWENTY FIFTH YEAR
On our 25th Anniversary celebration on October 31, 1976, the congregation consisted of 126 baptized and 108 confirmed members, more than three times the number of charter members. Total budget was $18,278.
Sunday worship offered one worship service and Sunday School Classes. We continued to share with Zion Lutheran Church: Rev Kildahl, pastor to Zion as well as First Lutheran alternating seasonal and festival worship services between the Clermont and Groveland locations..
In 1976, only 4 charter members remained in the congregation - Mrs. Erna De Neve, LeRoy Luvall, Albert Nolze, and Arthur Strey.
A LOOK AT THE SECOND 25 YEARS OF GROWTH
Growth continued from 1978 through 1981. 0n January 25, 1981, the congregation voted to separate from Zion Lutheran and called Pastor Becker. He was installed as the church's first full time pastor on October 10, 1982.
As a now independent mission congregation the church was faced with many challenges, but was blessed by continued growth and entered a building program in 1984. As part of the growth and new vision, the congregation changed its name to Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church in October 1984. The last traceable charter member, Mrs. Irma DeNeve, died July 26, 1986.
The Highway 50 Sanctuary, seating 220, was dedicated on November 30, 1986. The first Sunday School classes were held in the newly remodeled fellowship building in September of 1987.
CLERMONT GROWTH
Under the leadership of Pastor Philip Whitener, the church grew to two worship services and filled Sunday School classes. The congregation would soon outgrow its Highway 50 location.
In 1995, they took a leap of faith and began "A New Hill for the Shepherd's Cross" capital fund campaign. Many sacrificed for our church's future. Despite 18 months without a regular pastor in the middle of a 3 year capital fund drive, 76% of the amount pledged was contributed. This money purchased 12.8 acres of property overlooking Highway 27 just south of Clermont for $275,000 prior to the Clermont land boom. In 2002 another church paid $450,000 for just 5 acres in the same area.
Our congregation called Rev. Jonathan C. Ostenburg on Palm Sunday, 1997. On June 8, 1997, Rev. Kathryn Baines installed Pastor Jon.
Our congregation continued to be blessed with growth that kept pace as the community grew. Retirement communities now sit side by side with new family communities. Over 1998-1999, our church averaged 40 new members per year.
During 1998 and 1999, the Future Planning Committee began wrestling with the growth projections and current and future needs of our congregation. They restudied the option of remaining on the Highway 50 property. Such a plan did not meet the future needs of the church. Once again, it was time for a new church home. On April 11, 1999, the congregation voted to accept a sales contract on the Highway 50 property. In spring 1999, Walt McCarty led a building task force that began to design a new sanctuary. In the fall of 1999, a 3 year capital fund drive 'Now is the Time" began.
We had to be out of the highway 50 building by March 2002, or pay $8,000 per month rent. So began our sojourn to our new church home.
Aagard McNary Construction company began construction on the new building in May 2002. Walt McCarty was appointed Building Chairman. Approximately six months later the building was completed in late October.
On November 17, 2002, the first worship services were conducted and Sunday School classes held for the first time in our new church home! Our church now seats over 400 people. We gave special thanks and praises to our God for this new home at our first Thanksgiving Eve Service, November 27, 2002. Over 350 attended Christmas Eve services, during a severe thunderstorm.
THE GOLDEN 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF OUR CHURCH
Despite being in a temporary location for 9 months in 2002, our church continued to thrive as 28 new members (10 confirmed, 28 baptized) joined our church. There were 14 baptisms and 2 deaths. Church membership in 2002 was 573 members [396 confirmed]. Church membership quadrupled over the second 25 years. Winter friends continue to bless us.
In the beginning, Clermont growth sparked the birth of a new church. Our church leaders remained cognizant of Clermont's continuing growth and the implications of that growth for us. In 1980, a document titled the Case for First Lutheran Expansion Appeal clearly stated the necessity to grow along with our community. The "Now is the Time" appeal in 1999 echoed this need.
Sunday worship has continued with two worship services and a complete Sunday School offering classes from preschool to adult. Seasonal services also continue to be held. Recognizing that the pastor could not do it all, a part time youth director, filled by Chris Ostenburg, was filled in late 2002.
Looking back from 2003, it is clear that the 25th year recommendations for the future were met and exceeded.
Now it is our turn to look ahead to the future. Throughout our 50 years, we were blessed with visionary leadership. That leadership consistently positioned us in the right place at the right time and with the right resources. Clermont growth continues at an even faster pace today.
Time and time again, we have had the right people come forward with the right gifts at our greatest moment of need. God placed us in this new church as a people who are blessed to be a blessing. We have the space, the talents and the blessing of our God to move forward in our ministry to the church and our community. We are called to step forth and through our ministry, be a blessing to others!
NOW IS THE TIME!
A very special thank you to "Miss Virginia". Without her consistent and vigilant archiving and scrap booking, a great deal of our history would have been lost.
Our thanks also to Laura Dilley who compiled this church history.